Sound-illustrated book



March 27, 1951 H. sAMUr-:Ls 2,546,680

SOUND ILLUSTRATED BooK Filed Deo. l2, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN EY March 27, 1951 H y SAMUELS 2,546,680

SOUND ILLUSTRATED BOOK Filed nec. 12, 1946 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR HAROLD L.. 6mm/ELS BY y ATTRIEY Patented Mar. 27, 1951 SOUND-ILLUSTRATED BOOK Harold L. Samuels, New York, N. Y.

Application December 12, 1946, Serial No. 715,790

13 Claims.

A more particular object is to provide a childs book which may be of educational character,

and which illustrates various subjects with sound appropriate to the particular Subject. For example, the-roar of a lion may be reproduced to accompany a description or/and a picture of a lion. From one viewpoint, it may be said that an object of the invention is to provide a childs book or a toy having both pictorial and sound illustrations.

Still another object of the invention is to devise sound-producing mechanism which is so compact and inexpensive that a plurality of sound producers may be employed, these being accessible between the pages of the book, and each being appropriate to the subject of the page where the sound producer is exposed.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the combined book and sound-producing elements, and their relation one to the other, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the specification and sought to be dened in the claims. The specication is accompanied by drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a book embody- 'ing features of my invention, with the end of the binding left uncovered;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the bound end of the book shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view explanatory of a detail of the invention;

Fig. 4 shows a sound-producing diaphragm forming a part of the invention; f

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary showing of a modified form of diaphragm;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a slider which may be used with the invention;

Fig. '7 is a section taken in the plane of linel-'l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modied slider;

Fig. 9 is a section taken in the plane of the line 9--9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a section taken in the plane of the line I0I0 of'FiE. 8:

the

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention utilizing movable instead of stationary tapes;

Fig. 12 is a section through the binding portion of the book shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a section through one of the tape reels forming a part of the book;

Fig. 14 is a section taken in the plane of the line iii-I4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view explanatory of a detail;

Fig. 16 is a section taken approximately in the plane of the line lB-IB of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a section through the book taken approximately in the plane of the line lI--I'l of Fig. 12; and n Fig. 18 is explanatory of a diaphragm used in the book.

Referring to the drawings, the invention in the several species shown comprises generically a book B, having covers C between which are bound pages P, said pages having printed text or/and pictorial illustrations. The book structure B includes sound-producing means S for producing sound illustrations pertinent to the text or/and the pictorial illustrations. There are preferably a plurality of sound illustrations corresponding to a plurality of subjects found on the diierent pages of the book, the different sound-producing devices preferably being exposed and made accessible at the appropriate page of the book. For example, the book may deal with animals, in which case each soundproducing device simulates the sound of the particular animal being illustrated. The book may deal with other subjects, say vehicles, in which vcase the sound-producing device illustrates the sound of the different vehicles, or the distinctive warning signal customarily used by each type of vehicle.

In the forms ofthe invention here illustrated, the sound-producing mechanism includes a vibratile diaphragm D, and a plurality of scored sound-producing tapes T cooperating with said diaphragm to vibrate the same. The tapes are accessible between the successive pages of the book, and the tape accessible at any one page is so scored as to produce a sound illustrative of the subject on that page. The mechanism is operated by pulling a part marked S in Fig. 1 and Fig. 11.Y In Fig. 1 the part S is a slider, and in Fig. 11 it is a :linger-piece or pull.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. l is characterized primarily by the use of what may, for convenience, ybe termed stationary the` diaphragmv- 315.

tapes, which are attached to the diaphragm, While the form of the invention shown in Fig. 11 et seq. is mainly characterized by the use of movable tapes which move or slide relative to the diaphragm.

Considering the invention in greater detail, and referring first to Figs. 1 through 4 of the drawing, the particular book here illustrated has five pages"and"v.e soiind-producingV tapes. It will be" understood, however, that a greater or lesser number of tapes may be employed, and

that a plurality of pages may be provided for each tape, instead of the one as here shown.;

diaphragm D, and, the bieding OUI-1e book, For

the purpose of improved appearance, additional vStrips.'*`5-.1r1arte Provided Outside the diaphragm D, and a cloth 21d-is used as.; a back` or simulated bieding. ist iie'boqli This Chih. iS. extended around the strips 23d' andi 2,6, and may" also be usedv as a hinge for the covers` C. The ends of the strips 22, 24 and 26, aswellrasthe space defined therebetween.' are @Qi/.ered by Similar fabric, instead of being left open as shown in Eig. 1.

They have beenleit open in,l Fjig. 1 solely to help lshow the construction. of thebook or toy.

Referring'` no'W`to. Fig.'3f,'it will be seen that the"spacer1 strip` '2.2: isfnotchedV or 'recessed at 3 3, thus providing 4a passage forv the soundeproducing, tape 3.2. The end` of. the tapel issecured to In thev present case, this is done bypassing tape through aY slit. inthe diaphragm, the endbeing fittedwith.` afclip vor key, or other `Ilse' enlargedf w '"'I'h'e'tape"3 2'E 1s'r a., stripof suitable` material, preitera,my a plastiesuen asoeuuloid, the said strip having" transvers'ridges or 4indentations. 'Ilhe'se are a, forin'lo "hill and dale recording,

' butfwith the 'score linesextending entirely across the.; ofY the tap, instead, of` being; merely inav groove for cooperation with al stylus. Scoigedtape's of char erhave already been magyar-idf areifmemiqae inthe United states t@ afndlfadis HL'OttQfy 2,164,663., 'Ihetransyerse scoreA lines d iferfprima'rily; inf'pitch or4 spacing along the .mpeg

Big-.holding thetape. in; ones gngerswith the thumbnail, bearing againstfther trop*l off the tape and.v then. onesvf hand from the. binding toward. thev 'free end of* thel tape, the, diaphragm is'` vibrat'ed, and. produces a sound based on4 the recording or scoring ofthe particular tapethen` 126mg. Operated.

Referring td Eig;y 4, the-dfanhragm-,34` is preferably provided with, a, stepped; series of slits. 38, 49 42 ete., forgreceiving the endsA ofthe tapes.

, Thus thedifferenttapes. in thel book are preferthe transversecenter line of the diaphragm.

,byreference to Figs.v 15 and 116, Vwhich it will be seen that rrlovem'ent;of;S tape ,TQ pastj a stylus vided with an end stop 52.

'oit the end of the tape.

paper, hard paper board, cardboard, parchment,

bre board, or the like.

Although the tape may be operated with ones fingernail as previously mentioned, far better results in the Way of sound volume and clarity may be obtained. by using vra slider. Such a slider is shown at E@ in Fig'. 1. When a slider is eind ployed the free end of the tape is preferably pro- Such a stop is preferably omitted when the tape is operated with 'ones fingers', so that the hand can slide freely Even when a slider is employed the stop is not essential, but is preferably used in order to prevent loss of the slider.

The slider 5E is shown in greater detail in Figs. 6 and 7, in which it will be seen that it comprises e; t0n lamination 5,2; steeredy te a bottomlamination 5 4. with: theI tape, therebetween. The larni nations may be, madek ci ordinary cardboard. The top lamination SZ is providedl on its'A lower side with a stylus edge, preferably a thin Wire staple 5 6. 'IheI head or cross bridge of the inverted staple bears against the tape and extends parallel; to the transverselscore lines cnt he tape. Thelaminationsv and, 5E are` secured together, as by means of side staples 5S. Y

In. operation, the slider is heldf betweenl the ngers, andpressure Yis exerted'directly on. the staple. 516. The thin. wire`r ofy the, staple lbears against the. transverse score, lines of the. tape, tinusV setting theY tag'oe,V into-vibration., as.A thev slider is'pulle'd, thereal.Cristv Thel slider-fisl moved back without squeezing., it' against-'the tape. t

Amdied forni of slider isshowntin Figs. 8, 9

` the slider, asy is .best shown inFig. 9. (Thesestionof Fig. Ill is.'sornewhat, idealizedint'hat in fact thesi'destaplfes bend thecardbcardlanrinationstogether .at the sideedges, of' the slider.) Itflfias already been explained that the modifiedforfm ofI the inventionshovvn inEig. llf'difersrOmfthat/shown in Fig. 1, pri'n'iarily` in employing. moving tapes .in.y lieu of` stationary.y tapes.

v.Instead of aslider. beingdrawn along` a, tapeat- 55v tavchfe'd toa diaphragm,in'the present case. the

.tape drawnpastthe' diaphragm. It, will be understood that a stylusV arrangement might be employed bearing against thetape and' transmitting its vibratiomto the diaphragm. However, for, simplicity.,`inl the present, case they tape is vdrawn through a slit inthe diaphragm, andthe edge ofVA the slit, preferably. reinforced, functions as a direct-acting meansto vibrate` the diaphraem.

The principle oi operation will, be., understood edge, 12 ofa diaphragniQM" wiflLset the, diaphragm into vibration andso produce .asound dependent on the` sc oring, .o r remlldrrlig,l 'on t'lfiejape.A

vIn theF formlof', the, inventionhere shown, the

l* tapes are normally reeled` up on spring-operated rreels, aseries of thesereelsbeing providedon a stationary pin, as is best showngin Eig 17and being housed in the false Or/"extendedbindin-g of shaft 1s.

fprovide passages for the tapes.

the book, as shown in Figs. ll and 12. In Fig. 17

y is wound on a reel or drum 15, the latter being freely rotatable on a stationary or non-rotatable A spiral spring 88 is housed within drum 16, the inner end of the spring being riveted, screwed or otherwise secured to the shaft 18, and

,the outer end of the spring being secured to the reel 16. The spring is wound in such direction that its normal expansion winds the tape on the reel. When the tape is pulled off the reel or to the right, as shown in Fig. 13, the spring is tightened or wound up.

The stationary shaft 18 (see Fig. 17) may be formed with a squared end 82 somewhat like a carriage bolt, the opposite end being held by a screw 84. The reels are properly spaced apart by tubular spacers 86, these being shown also in Fig. 14.

The pages of the book are spaced apart by` suitable spacer strips 88, best shown in Fig. l2. These spacer strips are similar to those shown in Fig. 3, and are similarly notched or recessed to As before, the diaphragm 9|) is spaced from the binding of the book by means of top and bottom strips S2 which are wider than the spacer strips 88. The structure may be completed by a sheet-metal housing 94,

Ithe ends of which may, if desired, be made of wood, as shown at 96 in Fig. 17. While not essen- Reverting to Fig. 12, the stylus edge |80 for the tape |82 is not set directly opposite the passage |05. through the spacer strip, and instead is 'made somewhat lower, thereby bending the tape somewhat on its way from the reel through the binding of the book. This has the advantage of exerting an upward pressure so that the tape will bear against the stylus edge. In locating the stylus edge, allowance is made for the change in effective radius of the drum as the tape is unrolled.

The passage |86 for the next tape |08 is somewhat lower, andthe stylus edge llt on the diaphragm is correspondingly lowered. The same applies to the stylus edge I I2 for the tape |14. The parts are preferably so located that the tape is bent through approximately the same angle in each case.

The next three tapes ||6, ||8 and |20 are preferably wound from the bottom of their respective reels,and the spring action of these reels is, of course, appropriately reversed. The 'reinforcement or stylus edges |22, 24 and |26 are "located beneath the tapes H5, ||8 and |28, and

these tapes are mounted with their scored sur- Aface downward instead of upward.

The free ends of the tapes are preferably provided with Van enlarged finger-piece or pull, `as

,visual illustration, it is merely necessary to pull 6 the tape toward the right, as shown by the broken line position |28'. It will be noted that the tape may be pulled beyond the end of the book. and this is one advantage of the form of book shown in Fig. 11, compared to that shown in Fig. 1.

Thearran'gement of Fig. 1 is simpler and less expensive, but the pages of the book are preferably as long as the tapes in order to protectively house the tapes when the book is closed. To obtain ample duration of sound reproduction, the stationary tapes of Fig. 1 are preferably made, say, 18 inches long, and the pages of the book are therefore also 18 inches long. The book need not be proportionately wide, and a width of nine inchesv is adequate.` The thickness of the book need not be great, and I have found than a dialphragm only oneinch wide will function effectively even though long and narrow in shape, with a length of say nine inches. In fact, as previously mentioned, the diaphragm will function not only with a tape connected at the center,

but also with a tape connected surprisingly near one edge, near one end, or near the corner, but. this should not be overdone, and it is better to vstay a reasonable distance away from the edges..

Reverting to Figs. 11 and 12, it will be under-- stood that the tapes are laterally displaced because of the end-to-end relation of the reels, asv shown in Fig. 17. Thus the diaphragm may look. somewhat as shown in Fig. 18, with the passages, (and stylus edge reinforcements) in stepped rela-1 tion. The spacing has been exaggerated in Fig.. 18 (and Figs. 4 and 5 as well), because of the: In practice the topf and bottom slots are preferably spaced further than shown from the top and bottom edges of' small size of the drawings.

the diaphragm. Half of the stylus edge reinforcements are disposed above the slits, and These reinforcements may be madef half below. of metal, or thin hard fibre-board, or other suit-- able material which has greater resistance to wear than the naked or unprotected edge of the diaphragm itself. However, it will be understood vthat where the diaphragm is made throughout of a suitable thin, dense material, the edge of the slit itself may be relied on for cooperation with4 Y unintelligible and unimportant, and in any case may be quieted by pushing the` tape back. For this purpose, as well as to save expense in construction, the springs in the reels are preferably relatively light, and may be too weak to pull the tape back by themselves. `Their main purpose is merely to wind up the tape as the tape is supplied to the reel. Thus it becomesy necessary to urge the tape inwardly toward the binding after it has been pulled out, and when this is done, pressure at the Ystylus edge is relieved and little or no sound is produced.

It is believed that the construction and operation of my improved sound-illustrated book, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. The invention is particularly useful for children, who find the device an attractive and interesting toy, and who therefore willingly explore the subject matter of the book. The educational value of the book is enhanced vby the sound illustrations along with the usual text and pictorial illus- In certain special cases, the sound meedeedinvention; as'sought to be-'cleiinerlin-thefollow ing claims:

I claim:l

l. Abook vcompr'isinga pluralityof pagesidea'l'- ing with dii-ferent subjects by text` orfandipctoriakillustration; aLvibratilediaphragm located 'in .andjfbrrning a partof 'said ibook; a plurality' of soundproducing tapesjindepen'dent' offsai-dpages andiccoperating with said diapliragmttoA vibrate thesarne, that-apes beingaccessible between' the pages of 'thejbooldv and the tape which" is` ac;- cessible. at any one page being soxscore'dj as.; to cause said' diaphragm' 'toprodu'ce av 'souncl'v illus'- trative of thetsubject on ,that'paga 2l ibook comprising covers With aiplura'l'ityfof pages bound therebetween, saidj pages dealing with .di'lerent Subj ects by text or/ andf pictorial illustration,. a. Vibrat'e diaphragm located outsidet'hebindingotliebook, a pluralltyof soundL producing .`tapes.cooperatingwitli saidfd'iaphragm to vibrate the same;- tlietapes being; accessible between Athe.successive.pages .of the book, and :the tape. accessible at' any one page be'iiiglso` scored as yto produce a .soundillustrative o'thelsiibject onthat page` l 3.v A book comprisingfa plurality of .pages having printed', thereon text or/ and pictorial illustration for, dilerentA animal's,avibratle'. diaphragrn, a.plurality,osonndproducingtapes'ace cessiblebetween the. pages-oi:` .theb'oo'k, 'thetapes Vbeing ,scored .toproducesounds illustrative ci the animals describedgin..the. .bo o`k, said" tapes being operatively,relatedtotle aforesaidldiaphragm iin order` tov vibrate. thesame.-

4;. A ibook. comprising covers., Withl a ,plurality of. pages .bound`.therebetween, each .of saidpages havingfprinted'fthereon ltext' .or/ andfpictoriar' lustration foi-,..ananimaL a Vibratile. diaphragm located outside .the '.bindng; .of theljook, a phi'- rality of sound-producirigtapes .accessible kie.- :tween .the pagesoi..tliebooki .the tapeuexposedat any one Avpage. beng .scored. to. prodice. ;a. sound illustrative ofv Etheanirnal diesoribedon .that page, said .tapes .passingthrough the. aresaidfbinding tothe aforesaid diaphragm Ain Aorder itovibrate the same.

5. Abookcomprising covers withialplunality of pages bound therebetWeen,. -a fvibratediaphragm located outside :the bindingof'tne., boolnia .,pli'ir rality of scored sound-producing` tapes; saidiapes being disposed betweenzandlyingalongithe pages of thebook, and the .tape exposedeatany Aone ,page f serving to :produce affsound corresponding to #the subject matter of; that pageioneend offeaohctape passing through the bindingcandzbengseduredto the diaphragm.;

6:y .A -ibookacomprisingwl covers .aw-ith 1a..iph'iraflity -oi'`V pages f 'bound therebetvifeenf;l aiA v7ibi=a`tileV 'dia-'iphragm 'located outside-the binding fof the bock, la fplurality of scoredlsoundeproducingtapes'ftlie `rtapes nbeing Vdisposed"betWeenand lyr'lig along 'the pages of ltheebook; and v"the tape exposed "at 'any one pagetserving produce' a' sound? illustrative o'tliez'sub'jct. matter :ofthatgpaga said 'tapes 'being operatively connected ifto andfserving 'to vibrate'jthe 'diapliragmfthe' pages of saidjb'ook beingsubstantiallyas'long as the tapes, oneend ofi'y ezaicl'i"` talzie` passingv the? being-secured' to thediapliragm; 'Ti book comprising correrse witliv5 ai plurality of pages boi-mdA therebetween, a iriliratil?y digi phragrrr located' outsidetle binding' oftl'ie'- boolg af plurality ofA` scored sound-producing tapes-- tlife tapeslbeing" disposed betweenf arid-liviiig'4 alongttlie pages of tliebook', andfftheftape exposediatany onel page'serving topr'oduce a soundt ilustrative off' the subject matter off that page said7 tapes kbeing operativelyI connected' to" and; servingf to vibratetlied'iaphragm; the'pages of saidlbook beingsubstantially' as lon'gia's /tlietapesy brief-etici; of each' tape-passing through" tlei "nd being securedA tothe -dia'phr'agrrl;` thefibiiidikiig cludingspacer 'strips between pages;- sa-id'- ystripsV b'eingrecessedtoprqvideafpassagef 8;' A book'comprising covers With^ of; pageslr bound'i 'ther-ebetvvfeen;v a vibratiilediaphragm located outside the bindin'gofltlieboolc,

a' plurality' of f scored soundiprodilcing tapes; the tapes beingdisposed Jb'etWeeIr/and "lying along'Y the pages vof thebook; and; the tape4 expo'sedi at@ any one Vpage serving toproducea' sound illustrativeV of the'subject matter :of't'hat' page;- saidkttpes`v bejing operatively connected. to and serving" to Y'vibratezzthediapnragm, tliepa'ges of saidbooglz'rbeing substantially as longasthe tapes; oneenfdbfeach tape passing' tlirouglrithebinding andtheingsecured to the" diaphragm; a' slider'having a stylus 'edge slidable'bn said tape; andan endt'stp on saidtap'et'o p reteritloss'ofitlie slider;- e

9i A vbook comprising covers" Witljla plurality off' pages bound therebetween; ai vibraitldi'aiphrajgm located outside" thel 'biiidingo "the" 506k', a' pluralityoscored soundproducing tapes, the tapesseingdisposediuetweeni'anuiymgaibn nie rpages ofA the' loookj,r andthelta'pe exposed. 't one page" serving 'tovr produce a soundilius'trative of the subject matterdftli'atepage; said' tgpes' being opera'tivel'j .connectedto and servn to vibrate' the diaphragm, the pages" o saidfbook being'substantiallyj.as 'long a`s'tlie"tJS prie e'd ,o'f'l each tape" passing' through" the" birfdng and .Lbeingjsecured 'to the. d'iapfhrgm tli'efbinding .cludii'ig spacer' strips between pagjes1-said beingrecessedfto provide la' passage )for el' Qta slider 'having a' stylus edge slidabile lon' saidlta' e, and an end lstop on saidtape tprevent'lds'Slof the slider. v

10. A book comprisingcoilerslwith.a ,plurality o'pages bound therebetween, a vibratileldiaphragm located outside the 'bndhgg of-Qtle boek, aipluralty o scored soundproduciiig'ltapes, ,tlie 'tapes lzeingaccessible'lbetweeni` thelpagesl f .tl'e jbook; andi the tapeacce'ssible" at `ang-cori', page servingwto produc'e'a soundcoirespo'ndin oitfe vsubject matter of that pageisaidgbooklbe ng, rovdedf with a housngaoutside tlie.bir'i ding said housing carrying a .non-rotatable .shaft lwitll `av ,plurality of reelsforthe. tapes, .leach reel. having a restoring -springlto normallywind up.the-.tape, the diaphragm lli'aving meansi .cooperati`ng.- 'the tapes in such". fashion .tliatlmotionofiariane' from 'its reel "vibrates thediariliragm'..v

11.V A. ,book comprising covers ..Wlth .a Tplurality f `o'l 4"pages bound ,tlierebettveenwa vibratile.. dia- ,phragmllcatedoutside theldinding iefthehook-.a

plurality of lscored L- sound producing tanceA .the

"tapes being- .accessibles between thelpages- 75 vided with a" utilising"outsidelv the binding; said` housing carrying a non-rotatable shaft with a plurality of reels for the tapes, each reel having a restoringlspring to normally wind up the tape, the diaphragm being slotted to pass the slidable tapes.

12. A book comprising covers with a plurality of pages bound therebetween, a vibratile diaphragm located outside the binding of the book, a plurality of scored sound-producing tapes, the tapes being accessible between the pages of the book, and the tape accessible at any one page serving to produce a sound corresponding to the subject matter of that page, said tapes serving to vibrate the diaphragm, said book being provided with a housing outside the binding, said housing carrying a non-rotatable shaft with a plurality of reels for the tapes, each reel having a restoring spring to normally wind up the tape, the diaphragm being slotted to pass the slidable tapes, said diaphragm slots being so located that the tape is drawn against one edge of the slot.

13. A book comprising covers with a plurality of pages bound therebetween, a vibratile diaphragm located outside the binding of the book, a plurality of scored sound-producing tapes, the tapes being accessible between the pages of the able tapes, said diaphragm slots being so locatedY that the tape is drawn against one edge of the slot, said edge being reinforced by a thin sheet of material which will withstand excessive Wear, to provide a stylus edge.

HAROLD L. SAMUELS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 223,108 Brand Dec. 30, 1879 2,164,663 Ottofy July 4, 1939 2,369,572 Kallmann Feb. 13, 1945 

